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Arrhythmia
Summary
An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat. It means that your heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular pattern. When the heart beats faster than normal, it is called tachycardia. When the heart beats too slowly, it is called bradycardia. The most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular and fast heart beat.
Many factors can affect your heart’s rhythm, such as having had a heart attack, smoking, congenital heart defects, and stress. Some substances or medicines may also cause arrhythmias.
Symptoms of arrhythmias include:
- Fast or slow heart beat
- Skipping beats
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
Your doctor can run tests to find out if you have an arrhythmia. Treatment to restore a normal heart rhythm may include medicines, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker, or sometimes surgery.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Start Here
- About Arrhythmia American Heart Association
- Arrhythmia American Academy of Family Physicians
- Categories of Arrhythmias Texas Heart Institute
- What Is an Arrhythmia? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Related Issues
- AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Programs: Questions and Answers American Heart Association
- All about Heart Rate (Pulse) American Heart Association
- Automated External Defibrillators: Do You Need an AED? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Substances and Heart Rhythm Disorders Heart Rhythm Society
- Sudden Death in Young People: Heart Problems Often Blamed Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Find an Expert
- American Heart Association American Heart Association
- Find a Heart Rhythm Specialist Heart Rhythm Society
- Heart Rhythm Society Heart Rhythm Society
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Genetics
- Andersen-Tawil syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Ankyrin-B syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Brugada syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Progressive familial heart block: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Romano-Ward syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Short QT syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Sick sinus syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Timothy syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Treatments and Therapies
- Antiarrhythmics Texas Heart Institute
- Heart Treatments National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Medications for Arrhythmia American Heart Association
- Pacemakers and Implantable Defibrillators: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Prevention and Treatment of Arrhythmia American Heart Association
- What Are Defibrillators? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Teenagers
- Arrhythmias Nemours Foundation
Encyclopedia
- Arrhythmias Medical Encyclopedia
- Cardiac conduction system Medical Encyclopedia
- Cardiac event monitors Medical Encyclopedia
- Cardioversion Medical Encyclopedia
- Digitalis toxicity Medical Encyclopedia
- Heart block Medical Encyclopedia
- Heartbeat Medical Encyclopedia
- Intracardiac electrophysiology study (EPS) Medical Encyclopedia
- Multifocal atrial tachycardia Medical Encyclopedia
- Pulse Medical Encyclopedia
- Sick sinus syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Ventricular fibrillation Medical Encyclopedia
Patient Handouts
- Arrhythmias Medical Encyclopedia
- Atrial fibrillation or flutter Medical Encyclopedia
- Cardiac ablation procedures Medical Encyclopedia
- Ectopic heartbeat Medical Encyclopedia
- Electrocardiogram Medical Encyclopedia
- Exercise stress test Medical Encyclopedia
- Heart palpitations Medical Encyclopedia
- Holter monitor (24h) Medical Encyclopedia
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) Medical Encyclopedia
- Ventricular tachycardia Medical Encyclopedia
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) Medical Encyclopedia
Children
- Arrhythmias (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Children and Arrhythmia American Heart Association
- Heart Palpitations (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
Specifics
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) American Academy of Family Physicians
- Atrial Flutter (AFL) Heart Rhythm Society
- Bradycardia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Brugada Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Bundle Branch Block Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Cardiac Arrest: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Conduction Disorders National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Heart Rhythm Disorders Heart Rhythm Society
- Long QT Syndrome National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Other Heart Rhythm Disorders American Heart Association
- Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Premature Contractions — PACs and PVCs American Heart Association
- Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Sick Sinus Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Tachycardia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Tachycardia: Fast Heart Rate American Heart Association
- Ventricular Fibrillation Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- What Is Cardiac Arrest? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and Accessory Pathways American Heart Association
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Arrhythmias, Cardiac National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Bradycardia National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Tachycardia National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial National Institutes of Health
Diagnosis and Tests
- Common Tests for Arrhythmia American Heart Association
- Electrophysiology Studies (EPS) American Heart Association
- Heart Health Tests: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Heart Tests National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Skipped Beats Heart Rhythm Society
- Slow Heartbeat Heart Rhythm Society
- Syncope National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Tilt Table Test Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Early Warning Signs and Risk Factors for Arrhythmias and Heart Disease Heart Rhythm Society
- Understand Your Risk for Arrhythmia American Heart Association
Reference Desk
- Heart Anatomy Texas Heart Institute
- Heart Information Center Texas Heart Institute
- How the Heart Works National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute